PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Troy Anselmo (ranked 984 p4p, 119 weight class) and Moonlight Maze (ranked 1311 p4p, 160 weight class). Maze has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Troy Anselmo had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Anselmo
vs
Maze

182 cm
31
188 lbs
14 - 5 - 1

189 cm
28
190 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

King Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Troy Anselmo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Moonlight Maze!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anselmo ducks right into an uppercut from Maze.
Maze throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maze takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Anselmo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maze moves out of range of the leg kick from Anselmo.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maze throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Anselmo tried to score with a low kick but Maze checks it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Maze has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Anselmo throws a shot from downtown. Maze moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Maze was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Anselmo misses with a leg kick.
Maze lands an overhand right.
Maze throws a looping overhand right but Anselmo ducks down to avoid it.
Anselmo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maze. That did some damage!
Maze jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Maze feints and as Anselmo raises his hands in defense, Maze changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maze accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anselmo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maze trying to control but Anselmo is working from the bottom.
Maze controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anselmo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Maze off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Anselmo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maze throws a lazy right hand but Anselmo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Anselmo connects with a leg kick. Maze looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Maze swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Anselmo.

Anselmo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maze to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Anselmo has control of Maze's left arm, preventing Maze from doing any damage.
Maze in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Maze thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anselmo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Maze loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maze throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anselmo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maze throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anselmo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maze is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Maze wants to control from the top but Anselmo keeps moving.
Anselmo pulls Maze in close to his closed guard and prevents Maze from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maze throws a strike but Anselmo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Maze tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Maze working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Anselmo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Anselmo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Maze is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Anselmo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maze has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Anselmo has managed to get both his arms back between Maze's legs - danger averted.

Anselmo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maze misses with an uppercut.
Crunch! Anselmo slams his shin into Maze's torso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maze cracks Anselmo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Anselmo misses with a low kick.
Anselmo tries a head kick but it misses.
Anselmo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A nice combination there by Maze.
Maze looks to land a right hand but Anselmo moved out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick there by Anselmo.
Maze ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Anselmo moves away.
Maze checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maze lands a glancing blow to the side of Anselmo's head.
Maze lands with an overhand left.
The crowd cheers as Anselmo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Maze doesn't seem phased though.
A slow jab from Anselmo misses its intended target.
Maze might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Maze misses with a wild body shot.
Maze checks a leg kick.
Maze has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Maze swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maze misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Anselmo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anselmo.
Maze blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moonlight Maze dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Anselmo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maze dips to his left and cracks Anselmo with an uppercut!
Anselmo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maze on the side of the head.
Anselmo misses with a low kick.
Anselmo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maze.
Anselmo motions for Maze to come forward. Anselmo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maze loads up on a big right hand but Anselmo slips the punch.
Nice shot lands for Maze.
Maze stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Crunch! Anselmo slams his shin into Maze's torso.
Anselmo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Anselmo looks for the body kick but Maze saw that one coming.
Anselmo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Maze misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Anselmo.
Anselmo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good work by Maze as he checks the leg kick.
Maze avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maze with a hook.
Maze moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anselmo avoids the body shot from Maze.
Nice straight punches there by Maze. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maze.
Anselmo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Maze gets a takedown into half guard.
Anselmo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Anselmo wants to get back to full guard.
Maze missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maze not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maze uses his free foot to push down on Anselmo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Anselmo.
Anselmo reaches up and holds on to Maze to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anselmo can't escape the position.

Maze goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Anselmo is on top in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Anselmo gets to his feet - Maze follows without any prompting.
Troy Anselmo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maze lands an overhand right.
Maze throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Anselmo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maze.
Anselmo throws out a loose jab but Maze uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Anselmo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Anselmo looks to land a left hand but Maze moved out of range nicely.
Anselmo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Anselmo wants to slow Maze down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maze throws out a loose jab but Anselmo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anselmo is looking to counter punch.
Anselmo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anselmo misses with a low kick.
Maze misses with a looping right.
Maze misses with a series of wild punches.
Maze misses with a hook. Anselmo ducked under it nicely.
Anselmo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Maze misses with a looping right.
Maze rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Anselmo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Anselmo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Anselmo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Maze swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Anselmo.
Maze cracks Anselmo with a good jab.
Maze loads up on a big right hand but Anselmo slips the punch.
Maze swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anselmo walks into a straight right hand from Maze.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maze missing with a left hand there. Anselmo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Anselmo fires out a quick counter leg kick but Maze just manages to avoid it.
Anselmo misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anselmo throws a low kick but Maze avoids it.
Maze drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Anselmo defends it well.
Anselmo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maze moves out of range of the body kick from Anselmo.
Anselmo is looking to slow Maze down with leg kicks.
Maze misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maze looks to score with a jab to the body but Anselmo is just out of range.
Anselmo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Maze pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Anselmo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anselmo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Maze throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Anselmo counter with a right hand.
Maze lands a slapping body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Anselmo.
Maze loads up on a big right hand but Anselmo slips the punch.
Maze blocks a leg kick.
Anselmo misses with a right hand
and Maze counters with a straight right hand.
Anselmo tries a low kick but Maze avoids it.
Anselmo looks to throw the jab but Maze is out of range.
Anselmo throws a head kick that misses.
Maze now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moonlight Maze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A big left from Maze misses.
Anselmo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maze checks it well.
Moonlight Maze seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maze swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Anselmo counters with a stiff right hand.
Maze thuds his right hand into Anselmo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Maze swings for the body but Anselmo moves out of range.
Maze lands with an uppercut that bounces Anselmo off the cage and back into range.
Anselmo feints and then cracks Maze's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maze down.
Anselmo throws a leg kick but Maze checks it.
Maze changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Anselmo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Good exchange - Maze coming out on top.
Maze's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A clash of legs there as Maze blocks the low kick.
Anselmo moves away from the strike by Maze.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maze lands a jab.
Anselmo needs to keep his hands up - Maze had a free shot at his head there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anselmo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Anselmo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Maze misses with a hook. Anselmo ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maze scores with a jab.
Anselmo throws out a leg kick but Maze moves out of range and Anselmo only half commits.
Good shot there by Maze.
A good leg kick by Anselmo.
Anselmo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maze throws a looping overhand right but Anselmo ducks down to avoid it.
Anselmo cracks Maze with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Anselmo stuffs the takedown.
Anselmo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maze.
Anselmo dodges the punch combination from Maze.
Anselmo half committed to a counter leg kick.
The fighters circling - Maze throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Anselmo lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Anselmo's corner calls for a 1-2. Anselmo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Anselmo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Anselmo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anselmo's corner calls for a 1-2. Anselmo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Anselmo throws a solid leg kick but Maze takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Anselmo.
Troy Anselmo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maze fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Anselmo manages to avoid it.
Maze has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Anselmo finds it's way round the side to connect with Maze's head.
A slow jab from Maze misses its intended target.
Anselmo feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Anselmo throws a low kick but Maze avoids it.
Anselmo walks into a straight right hand from Maze.
An inside leg kick from Anselmo misses.
Maze is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Anselmo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anselmo.

Anselmo gets caught napping as Maze dives in and scores a takedown. Anselmo manages to retain guard.

Anselmo is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Maze presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Anselmo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maze working aggressively here.
Anselmo misses with some punches.
Maze scores with a shot to the side of Anselmo's head.

Anselmo breaks the clinch.
Anselmo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Anselmo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maze feints a jab promting Anselmo to slip. Maze then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Anselmo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Anselmo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maze.
Nice defenses there by Anselmo.
Anselmo is looking to slow Maze down with leg kicks.
Anselmo throws a head kick but Maze moves out of range.
Maze keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Anselmo misses with a head kick.
Anselmo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Maze throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Anselmo tries to work over Maze's front leg with a kick but Maze checks it.
Maze let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Anselmo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anselmo throws a quick counter kick to the body but Maze avoids it.
Maze dips to his left and cracks Anselmo with an uppercut!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maze!
Anselmo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Maze momentarily.
Maze throws a body shot but no joy.
Anselmo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Maze tests Anselmo's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anselmo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A lazy left from Maze finds it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Maze there.
Anselmo lands the left hand.
Anselmo scores with a nice body kick.
Maze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Anselmo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A big right from Anselmo misses.
Anselmo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maze displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Anselmo throws out the jab.
It seemed like Maze was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Anselmo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Maze looks to score with a jab to the body but Anselmo is just out of range.
Maze scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A chopping leg kick lands by Anselmo.
Maze getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Anselmo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Maze connects with a body shot that sends Anselmo's belly button to the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Moonlight Maze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maze has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Moonlight Maze!
Moonlight Maze tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.